Tonight the crew gathered for our weekly drill and this week was Haz-Mat Operations refresher class. The crew of 24 met down in the training room under the instruction of our friend Daryl Harris. Daryl gave us instruction in the finer points of haz-mat operations and we finished up the night going over the different levels of PPE for haz-mat response. The crew trained for 3 solid hours and are looking ahead to next weeks class!

This morning the box was struck for a working fire @ the 900 blk. of Lawnton ter. In Briarcliff. Crews arrived to find a two story twin with fire showing. Companies attacked the fire first from the interior but worsening conditions forced an Evac and a defensive attack. RIT 8 arrived with the TAC, Engine and Utility and the crew of 10 conducted there 360 size up, established there equipment cache, ran the saws, and took a roll in safety. The RIT crew stood by at the ready and was periodically conducting more size ups and keeping a watchful eye on the crews operating. The team was in service for several hours before being released.

This morning at 1138 the box was struck to Sellars and Ladomus in Leedom for the working fire. Engine 70 arrived after laying in to find fire and smoke showing, crews attacked same via 1 1/2 while Ladder 48 was next and had the truck work. RIT 8 Arrived with the TAC and Utility and  few members pov's and conducted our 360 size up, equipment cache and broke down into two groups. One group had the A B corner and the other the C D corner and stood by. Leedom's attack crew made short work of the fire and Tinicum's truck crew did the same and all units were cleaning up in record time. A great job by those first in units prevented severe damage! "The fire goes as the first line goes"

Tonight at 2028 the box was struck for a working fire at the now infamous Chocolate Factory in Eddystone. Crews arrived to find a "good" fire going in and around the rooster in the C D corner of the large building. Crews from Company 12, 48 and 62 attacked the fires and RIT Company 8 stood by. The TAC, Engine, Snozzle and Rescues crews conducted and size up, established our equipment cache, ran all our saws, deployed our rope and broke down into teams. We split up into three four man teams and had one team of non-interior firefighters as a eight man support team. Crews also broke off two firefighters to assist in the attack and had one back to support Ladder 48's driver. Crews worked the stubborn blaze for well over and hour before beginning to wrap up.

Today at 1000 a crew of 15 gathered and conducted our bi-weekly Apprentice drill. The team mounted up on Engine and Snozzle 8 a ventured out in town dropping and pulling lines. The large group worked on basic Engine Company operation, laying in, hook ups, hand line pull and stretch, Blitz fire and basic pump operations. The group trained for 3 1/2 hours and a good time was indeed had by all!!!

Tonight the crew gathered for our weekly drill. the topic was equipment qualifications. First the team met with Al Adams of Adams Fire Protection to go over Drager's new TIC's, after the demo the team had a quick team meeting followed by our quails. The crew was broken down into two large groups, one group was finishing SCBAs while the other was qualifying on The Irons!. The SCBA group worked on parts and nomenclature followed by donning under 60sec. The Irons group worked with our newest addition to our equipment cache, the Wide Adz Halligan bar. The group worked on one and two man forces and finished up with a little freestyle Halligan to Halligan action! A great time had by all!

Tonight the crew of 30 gathered for our annual CPR-AED training. The team was instructed by Stevy G. from Tinicum and as always a great class was given by him! The large group had a great time and really learned allot from Steve and are now primed and ready to go! Special thanks to Steve once again for a fantastic CPR-AED class! THANKS STEVE!

Tonight at 2120, companies 8 and 7 were dispatched Chester pk. and Prospect Ave. for and MVA. TAC 8 arrived to find a two vehicle accident with no injuries but fluid and debris on the roadway. The TAC was joined by 07-1 and the crews got to work pulling fire protection, lighting the scene, blocking traffic, spreading oil dry and cleaning up the roadway. Engine 8 and Utility 8 made the response as well to support the above operations. One vehicle was towed almost immediately and the other much later. Crews stood by until the vehicle was eventually towed away and with the debris cleared, the road was open and safe for travel.

Today at 1649, companies 7 and 8 were dispatched to 10 W. Hinckley Ave. in Ridely Park for a gas leak outside. 07-1 and Engine 8 arrived behind 07-9 to find an odor in the area. Crews went to work with meters scouring the area to find the leak, Snozzle 8 arrived and assisted but no cause found. PECO made a surprisingly fast response and the incident was quickly turned over to them with all units going available after about 15 min in service.

For the first AP drill of 2012 the crew focused on one of the most important jobs of an Engine company, and that is supplying water. The crew of 10 split up between Snozzle 8 and Engine 8 and went around town working on hooking up the truck and humat valve at various hydrant locations. The crew worked on every possibility when hooking up the hydrant. Time was spent discussing different options to ensure having enough hose, such as wrapping a telephone pole close by to give a little bit of extra hose just in case. The crew also went over hooking an engine into a humat valve after a supply line had been laid and also how to do a shut down hook up. Because of the temperature being below freezing, none of the lines where charged. During the drill every member had many opportunities to hook up the hydrant, and by the end everyone was improving on their times. A good time was had by all in attendance.

Tonight the team gathered for drill and conducted part of our annual qualifications. The topics for qualifications tonight were, SCBA, Snozzle boom, Power Tools, and Rescue Tools. The crew worked for 2 1/2 hours and as one would expect, A good Qual was had by all!

At just before 2 this afternoon, the Company was dispatched to Chester Pike and Lincon, in tow, for an accident. Engine 8 arrived to a two vehicle accident with fluids and debris on the highway. EMS was loading a patient upon arrival. With safety vests donned, the crew from the Engine and Rescue, chocked the vehicle, pulled fire protection and cleared the road of hazards. The crew went available a short while later once the tow removed the vehicle.

Tonight, three members received the Station 8 Challenge Coin. The award was for saving a life on 12/9/2011. The crew performed CPR on a patient during a response for a Cardiac Arrest. On this day the company was dispatched for a Elevator rescue in Ridley Parks local and was diverted from that response once 07 command returned the company for no services needed. The crew redirected and was first in on the cardiac arrest and their immediate actions help save the patient’s life. Great job team! The three EMT's that worked the patient and received the Challenge Coin are, Elliot Timlin, Rachael Bierman and Sean Boyd.

 

“I have no ambition in this world but one, and that is to be a firefighter The position may, in the eyes of some, appear to be a lowly one; but we who know the work which the firefighter has to do believe that his is a noble calling. There is an adage which says that, "Nothing can be destroyed except by fire." We strive to preserve from destruction the wealth of the world which is the product of the industry of men, necessary for the comfort of both the rich and the poor. We are defenders from fires of the art which has beautified the world, the product of the genius of men and the means of refinement of mankind. But, above all; our proudest endeavor is to save lives of men-the work of God Himself. Under the impulse of such thoughts, the nobility of the occupation thrills us and stimulates us to deeds of daring, even at the supreme sacrifice. Such considerations may not strike the average mind, but they are sufficient to fill to the limit our ambition in life and to make us serve the general purpose of human society.”

-- Chief Edward F. Croker FDNY circa 1910

Tonight, several of the crew got together with Apprentice Foreman Boyd, to go over some basics in hook-ups and going over the airpacks for the upcoming qualifications. A solid two hours were put in by all in attendance. We LOVE to drill! A great time was had by all!

At just after 5 this evening, the Company was dispatched to the 1300 block of Lincoln Ave for the reported vehicle fire. Engine 8 arrived quickly to a single vehicle with the engine compartment "well off". The crew chocked the vehicle, attacked from the corners, and pulled the comb-tool to open the hood. The Snozzle's crew and the crew from 07-1 arrived shortly after and assisted with the mop-up. Crews from 8 & 7 were in service for about a half hour.